I Urge Adoption of ADA Code of Ethics as the Basic Ethical Standard in Virgnia.

The ADA Website sums up perfectly what the Code is and why we should adopt the Code by reference as the standard of ethical practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Primary principles are patient autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity.  It is an evolving document that is  on-going dialogue between the dental profession and society, and as such, is subject to continuous review.  

The Code is far more comprehnhsive than anything that the Board of Dentistry could develop or manage. 

Needless to say, the greatest challenges facing dentistry as profession are of an ethical nature as evidenced by the large case load that the Board of Dentistry must manage.  Establishing this excellent standard of ethical practice will help protect the public from unscrupulous practice and reassure the public that licensed dentists must adhere to proper ethical standards.  Unfortunately the Public has NO Confidence that an appropriate standard exists in Virginia at this time.

FROM THE ADA WEBSITE:

 "The ADA Code has three main components: The Principles of Ethics, the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions.

The Principles of Ethics are the aspirational goals of the profession. They provide guidance and offer justification for the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions. There are five fundamental principles that form the foundation of the ADA Code: patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity. Principles can overlap each other as well as compete with each other for priority. More than one principle can justify a given element of the Code of Professional Conduct. Principles may at times need to be balanced against each other, but, otherwise, they are the profession's firm guideposts.

The Code of Professional Conduct is an expression of specific types of conduct that are either required or prohibited. The Code of Professional Conduct is a product of the ADA's legislative system. All elements of the Code of Professional Conduct result from resolutions that are adopted by the ADA's House of Delegates. ........

The Advisory Opinions are interpretations that apply the Code of Professional Conduct to specific fact situations. They are adopted by the ADA's Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs to provide guidance to the membership on how the Council might interpret the Code of Professional Conduct in a disciplinary proceeding.

The ADA Code is an evolving document and by its very nature cannot be a complete articulation of all ethical obligations. The ADA Code is the result of an on-going dialogue between the dental profession and society, and as such, is subject to continuous review."